The Los Angeles Lakers (27-32) host the New Orleans Pelicans (24-36) Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we look at the Pelicans vs. Lakers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
New Orleans won at Phoenix Friday 117-102 as a 6-point underdog. On the road, the Pelicans are 11-19 straight up (SU) and 14-16 against the spread (ATS).
Los Angeles was upset at home 105-102 Friday by the arena-mate Los Angeles Clippers as a 3-point favorite. The Lakers are 18-14 SU at home, but 13-19 ATS.
The Lakers are 6-1 SU and 5-1-1 ATS versus the Pelicans since the beginning of the 2019-20 season, Lakers PF Anthony Davis‘ first year in L.A.
Pelicans at Lakers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:33 p.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Pelicans -103 (bet $103 to win $100) | Lakers -107 (bet $107 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Pelicans +1.5 (-120) | Lakers -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 222.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
Pelicans at Lakers key injuries
Pelicans
- None
Lakers
- PG Avery Bradley (knee) out
- PF Anthony Davis (ankle) out
- SF LeBron James (knee) questionable
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Pelicans at Lakers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Pelicans 114, Lakers 103
Money line
GIMME 1.25 units on the PELICANS (-103) because they have a motivational edge, more continuity and are trending much better.
Pelicans former All-Star SF Brandon Ingram, who was sent to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis trade, has yet to beat his former employer since the deal. Look for Ingram to light up a bad Lakers defense Sunday night.
Furthermore, New Orleans is 1 game behind Portland for the 10th and final play-in seed in the West. The Pelicans were buyers at the trade deadline, picking up SG C.J. McCollum from the Trail Blazers.
Since the beginning of February, the Pelicans are 6-4 SU with a plus-5.2 adjusted net rating and plus-2.7 ATS margin, according to CleaningTheGlass.com. The Lakers are 3-5 SU this month with a minus-1.7 adjusted net rating and minus-1.3 ATS margin.
Finally, more than 80% of the action is on the Lakers’ ML, according to Pregame.com, but the line ticked down from -130 on the opener. This type of reverse-line movement should be a red flag for sports bettors.
BET PELICANS (-103) unless their spread goes to +2.5 or higher, at which point I’d take the points with NOLA and sprinkle on its ML.
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Against the spread
PASS unless the Pelicans +1.5 (-120) goes north of +2.5.
The Lakers are 10-16 ATS as home favorites with the fourth-worst ATS margin in the NBA (minus-3.7).
Over/Under
BET UNDER 222.5 (-115) for a one-third unit because this is a Pros vs. Joe’s game in the betting market for the total and New Orleans’ defense should lock up Los Angeles.
Roughly three-fourths of the cash is on the Under, whereas more than 80% of the bets placed are on the Over (per Pregame.com). Typically, it’s wise in sports betting to follow the money when it’s counter to the public.
On top of that, L.A. likes to push the pace (fourth-highest frequency of transition offense) but NOLA has the best defensive efficiency versus fast-break offense.
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